Ancestry.com and other ancestor search engines are helping people today to reconnect with their roots. In tribal societies, where records were not kept on paper, memory and constant repetition of family ancestry, particularly at weddings or funerals, kept the family tree before the eyes of its members. It is still an important facet of life in most countries in Africa.
It is no surprise, then, that St. Matthew begins his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus. (Mt 1:1-17) He arranges it in 3 groups of 14 from Abraham to Joseph, the husband of Mary. It's consoling to know that Jesus has a family tree, although most of the names mean nothing to us. We recognize David, and that is enough to legitimize his connection to royalty, though his kingdom is not of this world. The genealogy also affirms the humanity of Jesus, his membership in a human family with a long, established ancestry. He's not just someone who popped out of nowhere. It helps bring us closer to Jesus, the Man, our brother, with whom we too share a family.
Bro. Rene
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